Sinclair Lab - Intellectual Humility and Perceptions of Political

Journal article

Matthew L. Stanley, Alyssa H. Sinclair, Paul Seli
Journal of Personality, vol. 88, 2020, pp. 1196-1216

DOI: doi.org/10.1111/jopy.12566

Cite

APA Click to copy
Stanley, M. L., Sinclair, A. H., & Seli, P. (2020). Intellectual Humility and Perceptions of Political Opponents. Journal of Personality, 88, 1196–1216. https://doi.org/doi.org/10.1111/jopy.12566

Chicago/Turabian Click to copy
Stanley, Matthew L., Alyssa H. Sinclair, and Paul Seli. “Intellectual Humility and Perceptions of Political Opponents.” Journal of Personality 88 (2020): 1196–1216.

MLA Click to copy
Stanley, Matthew L., et al. “Intellectual Humility and Perceptions of Political Opponents.” Journal of Personality, vol. 88, 2020, pp. 1196–216, doi:doi.org/10.1111/jopy.12566.

BibTeX Click to copy

@article{matthew2020a,
  title = {Intellectual Humility and Perceptions of Political Opponents},
  year = {2020},
  journal = {Journal of Personality},
  pages = {1196-1216},
  volume = {88},
  doi = {doi.org/10.1111/jopy.12566},
  author = {Stanley, Matthew L. and Sinclair, Alyssa H. and Seli, Paul}
}

Abstract

OBJECTIVE Intellectual humility (IH) refers to the recognition that personal beliefs might be wrong. We investigate possible interpersonal implications of IH for how people perceive the intellectual capabilities and moral character of their sociopolitical opponents and for their willingness to associate with those opponents.

METHOD In four initial studies (N=1,926, Mage =38, 880 females, 1035 males), we measured IH, intellectual and moral derogation of opponents, and willingness to befriend opponents. In two additional studies (N=568, Mage =40, 252 females, 314 males), we presented participants with a specific opponent on certain sociopolitical issues and several social media posts from that opponent in which he expressed his views on the issue. We then measured IH, intellectual and moral derogation of the opponent, participants' willingness to befriend the opponent, participants' willingness to "friend" the opponent on social media, and participants' willingness to "follow" the opponent on social media.

RESULTS Low-IH relative to high-IH participants were more likely to derogate the intellectual capabilities and moral character of their opponents, less willing to befriend their opponents, and less willing to "friend" and "follow" an opponent on social media.

CONCLUSIONS IH may have important interpersonal implications for person perception, and for understanding social extremism and polarization.